Newsroom

There’s been a lot of talk about gun control lately but not enough thinking. It’s an understandable knee-jerk reaction to the heartbreaking massacre at Newtown that has jolted us into action on gun-violence, but we must guard against the ideologues on both the left and the right who seek to hijack the discussion with nonsense that is neither grounded nor realistic. This issue is too important and the sensible people in the middle must resist being crowded out.

Presents High School Senior Frances Bruschi with the New York State Senate Library Medal

It’s sometimes difficult to stay positive with all the sad news happening around us. But, occasionally there comes a story that makes us feel good about the future of our state and nation. Enter 17-year-old Frances Brusch.

Frances is an unassuming high school senior from Carle Place who also attends Barry Tech. Her quick-thinking, alertness and will to act just may have saved a fellow student’s life.

Senator Jack M. Martins attended the Long Island Association State of the Counties report with Nassau County Executive Ed Mangano and Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone, who reported on the issues facing Nassau and Suffolk Counties respectively.

There was a lot going on, but I didn’t forget. Even though the last year was widely recognized as one of the most successful for the New York Legislature in decades, for most of us, progress is still measured on the streets where we live, right in our own neighborhoods.

Senator Jack M. Martins’ first term in Albany, representing the Seventh Senate District, may go down in state history as the two yeasr during which New York was transformed from a dysfunctional state government to one that in which things get done.

There were 53 semifinalists in the 2013 Intel Science Talen Search and the high schools in the Seventh Senate District were well represents. Senator Jack M. Martins congratulates this year's semifinalists and wishes them continued success. Forty finalists will be announced on January 23.

We are in the midst of the winter months and many people are experiencing flu-like symtoms even though some may have had the flu shot. Here is some information you may find helpful if you are either experiencing symptoms or to help avoid the flu:

Mineola High School Senior Eric Timlin, an intern at the District Office of State Senator Jack M. Martins, wanted his senior project to be something that would benefit his classmates and the community as a whole. Timlin decided to organize an assembly at Mineola High School about a problem that has come to light in recent years – the prescription drug abuse epidemic.

Recently, the New York State Senate added a powerful tool to combat the epidemic through a new law, entitled I-STOP, that was co-sponsored by Senator Martins. The legislation, which was signed into law by Governor Cuomo, creates an online database accessible to doctors and pharmacists who will be able to identify who is getting excessive prescriptions of narcotics.

Ground has been broken on a project to alleviate flooding in the Bruce Terrace/Fairfield areas of Mineola and Carle Place. The flooding has been a decades-old problem plaguing some of the residents of those areas who experienced flooding in their homes as a result of heavy rains. However, the end of the problem is now within sight. Senator Jack M. Martins was able to secure a grant, which he distributed to the Village of Mineola, Town of North Hempstead and Nassau County , bringing the three governmental entities together to put an end to the longstanding problem.

The New York State Senate’s Bipartisan Task Force on Hurricane Sandy Recovery today visited communities on Long Island to tour storm damage and speak with local officials, business leaders, and individuals about the progress and challenges of the ongoing recovery efforts.

Today’s meeting focused on Hurricane Sandy’s impacts in Nassau and Suffolk counties and included tours of Freeport, Island Park, and Oceanside to view the extensive storm damage and recovery efforts. This was the second meeting of the Bipartisan Senate Task Force for Hurricane Sandy Recovery, which first met on December 10, 2012, in the Rockaways in Queens.

STATEMENT ON HOUSE ADJOURNING WITHOUT APPROVING AID FOR SANDY RECOVERY

"There are people living without heat, running water and electricity during the coldest days of the winter and the House of Representatives adjourns without approving the aid for Hurricane Sandy recovery. Shame on them. There are people struggling from the effects of a devastating storm. To just go home without even a vote is inexcusable."

I hope that you had a happy and safe holiday. As we approach the new year, I wanted to remind you of the new laws that will be taking effect on January 1, 2013. These new laws include greater protections for domestic violence victims, a new tax exemption to encourage use of solar energy and a measure to allow eligible colleges and universities in New York State to self-insure their students for health insurance.

I received an e- mail from Afghanistan in late October – actually from one of our local guys from New Hyde Park who is currently stationed there.

He serves in what is uniquely known as one of the Navy’s “Force Reintegration Cells.” It’s not what you might think, though. His unit actually distributes small grants and community funding for local projects, most of the time using the former insurgent fighters as laborers on the projects. Each leaves the fight “honorably” and each represents one less fighter or suicide bomber for the Taliban. As he notes in his message,

“As a native New Yorker, I was very skeptical at first, but I have to admit, that the program is working. We’ve peacefully removed 5,000 insurgent fighters from the battle space…”

For the second straight year, sixth grade students throughout the Seventh Senate District were asked to write an essay for Senator Jack M. Martins Thanksgiving Essay Contest on what they are most thankful for. A winner was selected from each school and recognized at a reception at the Hillside Library.

Awards Going to Winthrop Hospital and Town of Hempstead For Belmont Area Revitalization

Senator Jack M. Martins announced that projects in the Seventh Senate District that will create jobs will receive critically important state funds through the second round of Regional Economic Development Council awards.

I am angry. I am sad. I am resolute. The tragedy of Newtown is the tragedy of each and every community in every corner of our country. It could have happened anywhere. It is not a partisan issue, or a regional issue, and knows no ideology.

Everyone’s asking, “What’s happening to this country of ours?” But answers require a good, hard look in the mirror and won’t be found in Washington DC, or state capitals. Instead, they reside directly in us, and unfortunately that makes people uncomfortable. That’s too bad. We’re going to have to get past this discomfort, or we condemn ourselves to a future of burying the innocent.

Senator Jack M. Martins, Village of Mineola Mayor Scott Strauss and “Mr. Mineola” John Davanzo recently visited a special Mineola resident. On Friday, December 14. Senator Martins, Mayor Strauss and Mr. Davanzo went to an apartment in a complex on Mineola Boulevard to wish resident Beatrice Hubbard a happy 106th birthday. That right – 106!

Beatrice was born on December 14, 1906, the same year the Village of Mineola was incorporated. In 2006, as part of the village’s centennial celebration, Senator Martins, who was then-Mayor of Mineola, named Ms. Hubbard the Grand Marshal for the village’s 100th anniversary parade.

Thank you for your wonderful contribution to the Thanksgiving Day Creative Celebration. We received outstanding poems, essays, and artwork that exemplify the creativity of New York State’s young people.

The submissions received are remarkable in what they represent – showing gratitude and respect for family, friends, our troops fighting overseas, and many other important subjects and activities. I am humbled and honored to see such inspiring contributions in response to what is a deceptively difficult question: “What are you thankful for?”

In a warming center in Rockaway Beach, an area devastating by Hurricane Sandy, Senator Dean Skelos announced the creation of the New York State Senate's Bipartisan Task Force For Hurricane Sandy Recovery.